Apparatus for charging coke ovens

ABSTRACT

A plurality of endless chain conveyors are positioned in parallel spaced relation above the charging holes of a coke oven battery. The endless chain conveyors are arranged longitudinally relative to the coke oven battery and transversely to the coke oven chambers so that each coke oven chamber can be simultaneously charged from all of the endless conveyors positioned thereabove. The endless chain conveyors are each positioned within an enclosure that has outlet means therefrom to the respective coke oven chambers. A coal tower or hopper is positioned above each endless conveyor and has an outlet means connected to the enclosure to supply coal to the respective endless conveyor. The outlets from the enclosure have gate valve means for each coke oven chamber. Suitable means may be provided to automatically open and close the respective gate valve means. Another embodiment is provided with an inclined conveyor connected to the hopper that conveys coal from the lower conveyor reach to the upper conveyor reach.

United States Patent Wiemer [54] APPARATUS FOR CHARGING COKE OVENS- [72] Inventor: Erich Wiemer, Essen, Germany [73] Assignee: Heinrich Koppers Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haitung, Essen, Germany 221 Filed: March31, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 129,926

[52] US. Cl ..214/21, 202/262 [51] Int. Cl. ..Cl0b 31/04 [58] Field of Search .....214/16 R, 21, 18 R; 202/262,

[5 6] References Cited Foard ..L ..l98/69 Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan Attorney-Stanley J. Price, Jr.

1 1 Dec. 26, 1972 571 AIIISTRACT A plurality of endless chain conveyors are positioned in parallel spaced relation above the-charging holes of a coke oven battery. The endless chain conveyors are arranged longitudinally relative to the coke oven battery and transversely to the coke oven chambers so that each coke oven chamber can be simultaneously charged from all of the endless conveyors positioned thereabove. The endless chain conveyors are each positioned within an enclosure that has outlet means therefrom to the respective coke oven chambers. A coal tower or hopper is positioned above each endless conveyor and has an outlet means connected to the enclosure to supply coal to the respective endless conveyor. The outlets from the enclosure have gate valve means for each coke oven chamber. Suitable means may be provided to automatically open and close the respective gate valve means. Another embodiment is provided with an inclined conveyor connected to the hopper that conveys coal from the lower conveyor reach to the upper conveyor reach.

1 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 2 6 m2 SHEEI 1 0F 5 PATENTEU I972 3.707.237 sum 2 or 5 PATENTED DEC 2 6 I972 SHEU '4 [IF 5 mm mm m ww wwmwwww APPARATUS FOR CHARGING COKE OVENS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for charging coke ovens and more particularly to'apparatus for charging coke ovens by means of endless conveyors.

2. Description of the Prior Art Coke ovens are customarily charged by means of a larry car that travels on top of the coke oven battery in a longitudinal direction and is generally provided with four or five charging hoppers. The number of charging hoppers usually corresponds to the number of charging holes or inlets in the coke oven roof to each coke oven chamber. The plurality of charging hoppers usually contains a sufficient amount of coal for a single charge and the charging hoppers are emptied into'the coke oven chamber after the charging hole covers are removed and telescopic tubes are lowered into the charging holes. During the charging, gases escape from the coke oven chambers through the charging holes. Apparatus has been provided in the past for collecting charging gases discharged from the oven and cleaning the charging gases to minimize air pollution. Substantion apparatus of this type. Further, the larry cars are required to return to a coal hopper or coal tower to be reloaded after each coke oven chamber is charged. This requires a substantialperiod of time required to charge all of the coke oven chambers in a coke oven battery.

Endless conveyors have been used in the past to charge coke oven chambers. The coal was supplied to the endless conveyor from the coal tower or hopper through a drop sleeve. The discharge end of the conveyor was movable to be positioned over a preselected charging hole of the oven chamber being charged. The discharge end of the conveyor had a hood positioned therearound for collecting the charging gases while the endless conveyor was of an open construction. Substantial dust was formed with this type of endless conveyor during the loading of the conveyor from the coal tower and the transportation of the coal to the discharge end portion of the conveyor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The herein described apparatus for charging coke ovens includes a plurality of enclosed endless conveyors extending longitudinally along the top of the coke oven battery in transverse relation to therespective coke oven chambers. The enclosure for the endless conveyors has an opening adjacent one end connected to a coal hopper and a plurality of openings in overlying relation with the charging holes of the respective coke oven chambers. Valve means are provided to control the feed of coal from the hopper to the endless chain conveyor within the enclosure. Outlet conduits connect the outlet openings in the conveyor enclosure with the charging hole openings in the respective coking chambers.'Valve means are provided in the outlet conduits to control the flow of coal therethrough into the respective coke oven chambers.

With this arrangement, the transportation of the coal from the coal hoppers to the preselected coke oven battery takes place within the conveyor enclosure and tial expenditures are involved In providing gas collec- I the charging gases evolved during the charging of the 2 coke oven chamber are retained within the enclosure and do not pollute the atmosphere. Suitable means may be provided to collect the gases evolved during the charging of the respective coke ovenchambers with the above apparatus.

. Accordingly. the principal feature of this invention is to provide apparatus for charging coke oven chambers without permitting the gases evolved during charging of the coke oven chamber to be emitted to the atmosphere. a 7

Another feature of this invention is to provide apparatus for simeltaneously charging a plurality of charging holes in the same coke oven chamber.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will be more completely disclosed and described 'in the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1a is a generally diagrammatic side view in elevation of a coke oven battery with my improved apparatus for charging the transverse coke ovens positioned thereabove.

FIGS. lb, 10 and 1d are fragmentary'views in side elevation and section of thecoke oven battery in FIG. laillustrating the manner in which the coal is conveyed from the coal hopper to the preselected charging holes or preselected coke oven chambers.

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along the line llll in FIG. 1 illustrating the upper and lower .conveying reaches of the endless chain conveyor within the conveyor enclosure and the end sprockets for the chain conveyor.

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary transverse section through four enclosed endless conveyors illustrating the manner in which the conveyor enclosuresare connected to the coal hoppers and to the outlet conduits.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a coke oven battery end portion illustrating the coal hoppers for the enclosed endless chain conveyors and the manner in which a coke oven chamber is simultaneously charged by the plurality of enclosed endless conveyors. I

FIG. 4 is a vertical fragmentary view in elevation and section of the end portion of one of the endless chain conveyors.

FIG. 5 is a view in section similar to FIG. 1 witha separate endless chain conveyor for conveying the coal not charged in a coke oven chamber to the endless conveyor.

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken along the line VI VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a transverse section similar to FIG. 2a through another embodiment of the coal-charging apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 3 of the em-- bodiment illustrated in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. la, 2a and 3, there is illustrated a coke oven battery generally designated by the numeral 10 that has side walls 12 and 14 and end walls 16 and 18. The coke oven battery 10 has a plurality of transverse coking chambers, several of which are designated by the numam n'mn merals 20-32. The coke oven chambers 20-32 are arranged transversely in the coke oven battery and are similar in construction so that the same numerals wili designate similar parts. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the coke oven chambers -26 each has four charging holes 34, 36, 38 and 40. The respective charging holes 34-40 of the coke oven chambers 20-26 are arranged in aligned parallel relation longitudinally along the coke oven battery 10.

My improved apparatus for charging the coke oven chambers 20-32 is generally designated by the numeral 42 and includes a plurality of coal towers or coal hoppers 44, 46, 48 and 50 adjacent the coke oven battery endvwall 16 above the coke oven battery roof 52. Extending longitudinally. along the coke oven battery roof 52 are a plurality of parallel endless conveyor enclosures 54, 56, 58 and 60. Theenclosures 54-60 are similar in construction and have an opening 62 therein I closures 54-60. There is provided a gate valve 66 in each of the openings 6.4.to control the flow of coal from the respective hoppers 44-50 into the respective conveyor enclosures 54-60. The'enclosures 54-60 have bottom outlet openings 68 in'overl'ying relation with the charging holes 34-40 of the respective coke oven chambers 20-32. The bottom outlet openings 68 are connected to vertical conduits 70 that are in turn connected to the charging holes 34-40. With this arrangement, the outlets 68 of the conveyor enclosures'54-60 are connected by means of conduits 70 to the charging holes 34-40 of the respective coke oven chambers. The conduits 70 have a pair of gate valves 72 and 74 therein positioned in spaced relation to each other and adjacent the enclosure outlet 68 and the charging holesin FlG. 3 the slidable gate valves 72 and 74 are illustrated in an open position in coke oven chamber 22 and in a closed position in the other illustrated coking chambers. There is also illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 3, other hoppers 76, 78, 80 and 82 of similar construction arranged to supply coal to a second coke oven battery positioned adjacent the coke oven battery end wall 16. The centralized location of the hoppers 44-50 and 76-82 provides access to both batteries or hoppers from a single overhead coal feeding means.

The conveyor enclosure54 has a generally rectangular configuration with a top wall 84, a bottom wall 86 and side walls 88 and 90. The end portions of the enclosure 54 have vertical end walls 92 and 94. Positioned within the enclosures 54-60 are endless chain conveyors 96 reeved about respective end sprockets 98 and 1 00. The chain conveyor 96 is illustrated in FIG. 2 and includes a pair of spaced endless chains 102 and 104 with paddles or conveyor flights 106 connected therebetween in spaced parallel relation to each other. The upper flight or conveyor reach of the endless conveyor 96 rides on a horizontal base plate 108 and conveys the coal longitudinally thereon. The lower flight or conveyor reach rides on an enclosure bottom wall 86 and conveys the coal longitudinally in a direction opposite the direction of the upper conveying reach.

As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the endless conveyor 96 may include a drum-like member 101 to transport the coal not discharged into a charging hole upwardly from the lower conveyor flight onto the plate 108 A baffle plate 110 may be positioned in front of the drum 101 to prevent overfilling and jamming of the chain conveyor 96. it should be understood, however, that other means, as for example the apparatus described in relation to FIG. 5, may be employed to return thecoal from the lower conveyor flight to the upper conveying flight on plate 108. v

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and particularly FlGS. 1b, 1c and 1d, the operation of my improved coke oven charging apparatus 42 will now be described. in FlG. 3, the gate valves 72 and 74 in conduits 70 are open thereby connecting the bottom outletopening 68in conveyor enclosure 54 with the respective charging holes 34,36, 38v and 40."The gate valve 66 in hopper'44 is opened connecting the hopper outlet opening with the enclosure opening62. Suitable means are provided to activate the four. endless conveyors 96 in the respective enclosures 54, 56, 58 and 60. The coal is transported by means of the conveyor flights 106 longitudinally on the plate 108 within the enclosures toward the coke oven battery end wall 18. Asthe conveyor flights. 106 discharge the coal from the end of the horizontal base plate 108 onto the bottom wall 86, the transverse conveyor flights 106 in the lower reach of the conveyor move the coal longitudinally in the respective enclosures 54-60 towardthe coke oven battery end wall 16. The coal is conveyed to the vertical conduit 70 that has the gate valves 72 and 74 in an open position. For example, in FIG. 3, the coal is delivered to the coke oven chamber 22. The coal is discharged through the outlet 68 in the enclosure into and through the conduit 70 into the coke oven chamber 22 through the respective charging holes 34-40. With this arrangement, all-four charging holes 34-40 of coke oven chamber 22 are simultaneously charged with coal by means of the endless conveyors 96.'When coke oven chamber 22 is completely charged, the gate valves 72 and 74 of vertical conduits 70 are closed and similar gate valves in conduits of another coke oven chamber are opened to charge that respective coke oven chamber.

FIG. 1b for example illustrates the charging of the third coke oven chamber from the coke oven battery end wall 16. FIG. 10 illustrates charging of the coke oven chamber 26 and FIG. 1a illustrates charging of the coke oven chamber adjacent the battery end wall 16.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is illustrated apparatus for recycling the coal transported by the lower conveyor reach to the upper conveyor reach. Similar numerals will designate similar parts previously discussed in reference to FIGS. 1-4. Adjacent the coke oven battery end wall 16 there is provided an opening 112 in the conveyor enclosure 54 with a conduit 114 connected thereto. A second enclosure 1 16 extends angularly upwardly adjacent to the enclosure 54 and has a lower opening 118 connected to the conduit 114. The upper end of the enclosure 116 has an opening 120 connected to a vertical conduit 122. The vertical conduit 122 in turn is connected to an opening 124 in the top wall 84 of enclosure 54. Within the enclosure 116 there is an endless conveyor 126 that conveys the coal discharge through conduit 114 upwardly through enclosure ll6 and the coal is discharged downwardly through conduit 124 onto the upper reach of conveyor 96. With this arrangement, the residual coal not charged into a coke oven chamber is recycled or conveyed upwardly to the upper reach of the endless conveyor 96. I

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is illustrated another feature-of the invention in which similar numerals will designate similar parts. The hoppers 44, 46, 48 and 50 have their outlets 64, offset laterally from the endless conveyor enclosures 54, 56, 58 and 60. As is illustrated in FIG. 7, conduits 128, 130, 132 and 134 connect the outlets 64 of hoppers 44-50 with the endless conveyor enclosures .54-60. The charging holes 34, 36, 38 and 40 have vertical conduits 136, 138, 140 and 142 extending upwardly therefrom. Each of the conduits 136-142 has a branch conduit 144 connected to the outlet opening of the respective endless conveyor enclosures 54-60 so that coal discharged through the branch conduit 144 will flow into the respective charging holes 34-40. Slidable gate valves 146 are positioned in the branch conduits 144 adjacent the. conveyor enclosures 54-60. Other gate valves 148 are positioned in main vertical conduits 136-142.-With this arrangement, the flow of coal downwardly through the respective charging holes 34-40 is controlled by means of the gate valves 146 and 148. Vibrators 150 may be positioned within the coke oven chamber and extend upwardly in the vertical conduits 136-142. The upper end portion of of each conduit 136-142 is closed by a transverse cap member 152. With this arrangement, the vibrators assure that a distribution of freeflowing, specially predried, preheated coal can be effected without the use of a leveling bar under certain conditions. It is also possible in many instances that the thermally dried coal is freeflowing and the leveling within the coke oven chamber takes place without either the use of leveling bars or vibrators. If, however, depending on the operating conditions, it is necessary to level the coal charge, leveling can be effected by means ofa conventional leveling bar in the same manner as in an oven chamber charged by conventional means.

It should be understood that more or less than the four illustrated chain conveyors may be employed to charge the ovens. it is also possible to limit the, charging apparatus to a single conveyor, particularly when the coal is free flowing and does not require leveling by a leveling bar or vibrators. When only one chain conveyor is employed, it is possible to provide transverse conveyors arranged parallel to the coke oven chambers. Each of these transverse conveyors may be coordinated with a single coke oven chamber and is arranged to be connected with one or more of the charging holes of the coke oven chamber. The transverse conveyors are suitably constructed also as chain conveyors and their connections are preferably designed so that the entire transportation system is enclosed to prevent the escape of charging gases and coal dust into the atmosphere. It is in certain instances essential that the coal, particularly when predried and preheated, be transported in an inert atmosphere because of the danger of ignition.

A separate suction means to remove the charging gases is not essential when the apparatus previously described is employed because the collecting main can remain closed and admission of entrained air cannot take place. Suction apparatus may be provided to preselected amount of coal is charged. The upper gate valves 72 or 146 are closed and the leveling bar is inserted. Any coal still present in the conduits or 136 will then flow downwardly into the coke oven chamber after the leveling operation is complete. The lower. gate valves 74 and 148 are then closed.

The operation of the gate valves in the respective conduits can be centrally controlled in a completely automated operation of the coke plant and can be activated by suitable controls which preferably also permit manual operation in the event of power failure.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have explained the' principle, preferred construction and mode of operation of my'invention and what is now considered to represent its best feature has been illustrated and described. However, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

lclaim 1. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers arranged transversely in a coke oven battery comprising, a plurality of fixed enclosures extending longitudinally along the top of the coke oven battery in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other and substantially perpendicular to the plurality of parallel coke oven chambers in said coke oven battery, said enclosures positioned in overlying relation with the coal inlet openings of said plurality of coke oven chambers therebelow, said enclosures each having a plurality of outlet openings therein above said coke oven chamber coal inlet openings, first valve means in said enclosure outlet openings to control the flow of coal therethrough, coal storage means positioned above said fixed enclosures adjacent one end of said enclosures, each of said enclosures having a coal inlet opening therein connected to an outlet opening of said coal storage means, second valve means in said coal storage means operable to control the flow of coal from saidcoal storage means into said enclosures, and encless conveyor means in each of said fixed enclosures operable to convey said coal from said coal storage means to a preselected coal inlet opening of a preselected coke oven chamber. 2. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers as set forth in claim 1 in which, said enclosures include a bottom wall and a horizontal plate positioned thereabove, said endless conveyor means including pairs of endless chains reeved about end sprockets and transverse conveyor flights connected between said chains in spaced relation to each other, said endless conveyor means having an upper reach to convey coal longitudinally on said horizontal plate and a lower reach to convey said coal on said enclosure bottom wall.

3. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers as set forth in claim 2 in which,

said enclosure inlet openings operable to feed coal from said coal storage means onto said horizontal plate. 4. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers as set forth in claim 1 in which, 1

said enclosures include a bottom wall with said outlet openings therein, and conduit means connecting said outlet openings in said enclosures with said coke oven chamber inlet openings. 5. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers as set forth in claim 4 in which,

said first valve means includes a first gate valve in said conduit adjacent said enclosure bottom wall said coke oven chamber inlet opening.

other enclosures connected to said other outlet openings and said second inlet opening, and other conveyor means in said other enclosures operable to convey coal from said other outlet opening to said second inlet opening.

Il i IF k l 

1. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers arranged transversely in a coke oven battery comprising, a plurality of fixed enclosures extending longitudinally along the top of the coke oven battery in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other and substantially perpendicular to the plurality of parallel coke oven chambers in said coke oven battery, said enclosures positioned in overlying relation with the coal inlet openings of said plurality of coke oven chambers therebelow, said enclosures each having a plurality of outlet openings therein above said coke oven chamber coal inlet openings, first valve means in said enclosure outlet openings to Control the flow of coal therethrough, coal storage means positioned above said fixed enclosures adjacent one end of said enclosures, each of said enclosures having a coal inlet opening therein connected to an outlet opening of said coal storage means, second valve means in said coal storage means operable to control the flow of coal from said coal storage means into said enclosures, and encless conveyor means in each of said fixed enclosures operable to convey said coal from said coal storage means to a preselected coal inlet opening of a preselected coke oven chamber.
 2. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers as set forth in claim 1 in which, said enclosures include a bottom wall and a horizontal plate positioned thereabove, said endless conveyor means including pairs of endless chains reeved about end sprockets and transverse conveyor flights connected between said chains in spaced relation to each other, said endless conveyor means having an upper reach to convey coal longitudinally on said horizontal plate and a lower reach to convey said coal on said enclosure bottom wall.
 3. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers as set forth in claim 2 in which, said enclosure inlet openings operable to feed coal from said coal storage means onto said horizontal plate.
 4. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers as set forth in claim 1 in which, said enclosures include a bottom wall with said outlet openings therein, and conduit means connecting said outlet openings in said enclosures with said coke oven chamber inlet openings.
 5. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers as set forth in claim 4 in which, said first valve means includes a first gate valve in said conduit adjacent said enclosure bottom wall and a second gate valve in said conduit adjacent said coke oven chamber inlet opening.
 6. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers as set forth in claim 2 which includes, means to convey coal from said conveyor lower reach to said conveyor upper reach.
 7. Apparatus for charging coke oven chambers as set forth in claim 6 in which, each of said enclosures having an other outlet opening in said bottom wall adjacent said coal storage means, each of said enclosures having a second inlet opening adjacent to said coal storage means, other enclosures connected to said other outlet openings and said second inlet opening, and other conveyor means in said other enclosures operable to convey coal from said other outlet opening to said second inlet opening. 